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Dermaplaning and dermarolling at home

Friday, February 22, 2019

I stumble across all kinds of things watching YouTube videos. There's some great info out there. I've figured out knitting stitches, how to take apart a vacuum cleaner, and more. I've also bought more beauty products than I can count . . . so tempting!

Over the past few months, I've tried out three different facial tools that I've seen on various YouTube channels. They range from inexpensive to pricey, from easy to use to downright scary!

Here's my thoughts on each of them.

The first is the Tinkle razor for removing peach fuzz on your face.

I would have walked around in ignorant bliss, peach fuzz in all its glory, if I hadn't seen a few videos where shaving was part of the overall skin care regime. Who knew? But after hearing about amazing results, with moisturizers and foundations gliding on so much more easily after the peach fuzz had been whisked away, I decided to give it a go.

I guess it's a thing. These razors and others have been around for several years, popularized by recent interest in Korean and Japanese beauty care. Apparently, Japanese women have always shaved their faces.

Even Marilyn Monroe and Elizabeth Taylor did.

Besides removing hair, shaving can work as an at-home version of dermaplaning, a procedure you can get done in a dermatologist's office that promises to not only remove all facial hair, but exfoliate in the process.

But the at-home version will save tons of money and basically do the same thing.

After being reassured that I would not end up with stubble or five o'clock shadow !!!, I bought some little disposable razors called Tinkle from Amazon. I got 12 for $6.95 with free shipping with my Prime account. One razor is good for several shaves, and most YouTubers I watched didn't shave more than once a week, usually less.

Look what I shaved off!

And yes, there's a lot of exfoliated dead skin there, too!

Some people, including Kate Somerville, who owns an eponymous line of skincare, use a regular old men's razor. She's been shaving for 20 years!

By the way, if you use a little scraper, like the Tinkle (and there are many other brands out there), you can use it dry. No shaving cream or oil. But if you use a regular razor, you will need to use shaving cream.

I put this Nuxe Huile Prodigieuse dry oil on after I shaved. It is so soothing, and it has a lovely scent.

(And please, no shaming of anyone who chooses to keep peach fuzz. I loved it on my grandma. She always looked so soft and lovely. Do what you want!)

The second product I tried is a rose quartz roller.

These are meant to seal in serums after application. They are also meant to contour and de-puff, as well as promote lymphatic drainage. The Brazilian rose quartz is also supposed to transmit "loving and healing energies." I'll take that last bit with a grain of salt, but this roller does feel very nice and cooling on the face.

I like the smaller side, too, for rolling gently around the eye area.

I've seen these rollers in jade as well, and they are available at various price points. I got this one here from Sephora.

The last item I tried is a facial microneedling tool. This was the most expensive and definitely the scariest to try. I tried the BeautyBio GloPRO Microneedling Tool from Amazon.

The tool is a handheld roller covered with tiny (0.3 mm) needles.

I tried to get a closeup so you could see the actual needles.

You roll it over your face gently back and forth, up and down, and diagonally, to create tiny cuts in the skin. As the skin heals, it is supposed to build up collagen, a key ingredient in keeping skin youthful. It will also cause your skin to better absorb moisturizing serums and creams.

Microneedling treatments in a dermatologist's office are quite expensive. I asked my dermatologist about these tools. She said they really don't penetrate deep enough into the skin to enable collagen to build up. (Hmm . . . is this because she doesn't want to lose business? Or because it's really true? Thoughts?) And she cautioned that you must be sure to clean the tool with alcohol after each use. But she did acknowledge that it would help your skin to better absorb skin care products.

In practice, this tool was much easier and less scary to use than I imagined. The needles are very small, and I definitely did not feel like I was cutting or injuring my skin. It didn't hurt at all.

Because I've been trying to up my skin care game, and because facials and dermatology treatments are expensive, I felt these tools were worth a try. Not sure that they are game-changing, but I would definitely recommend any of them.

What about you? Have you tried any of these products?

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I got a large, positive response on my last post on abortion. Only one negative comment, which I didn't post because of the vulgarity it contained. I don't mind printing opposing viewpoints, but I will not put ugly language on my blog. Because civility is important.

12 comments
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Well, I'm about to order that razor, never even heard of it. I don't know if I have peach fuzz or not but going to give those a try. I do have the needle roller and love it. Mine is from Rodan and Fields and I paid way to much for it. But, guess it will last a while. Loved this post, very educational for me. Hugs!

Good morning, Deborah. I haven't tried any of those products, but I so appreciate you giving us your honest reviews of them. My late beloved mom, for her 89th Birthday last June, wanted a Flawless facial hair removal. I always loved that she still cared about her appearance. I will check out the products that you shared. Thank you!

Hi Deborah...Thanks for posting about this. I have not tried any of these, though the shaving seems interesting. I do have a Rodan+Fields micro roller that my sister in law purchased and did not like, and gave it to me. It comes bottle that I guess is for cleaning it with alcohol. I never used it...but maybe I will try it now. I am BLESSED with great skin. At 64 it still looks good...I think I inherited my dear aunt's good skin...when she passed away at 97 the funeral director thought he had the wrong person because her skin looked so good. But, I am open to trying new things to keep my skin looking good, so very grateful for this post. Also...sorry someone was vulgar on your last post. So sad. It makes you feel bad. When my US Senator posts something on Facebook ( and he is Pro Life) and I like the post and thank him for working for us - I get the nastiest comments written back at me. I can't believe it...and when I say "hey, I am commenting to my senator, not to you" that really makes people angry. I have decided not to comment or like anymore - I am going to write him an old fashioned letter to tell him I thank him for his service. I can't imagine how he feels about all the awful things people say to him. Sad that the world is this way....

Hi Deborah, I have never tried any of these products but have seen and heard of the last two from watching YouTube videos too. I am a little too nervous to try the needle roller. Do you think that the needle roller makes a difference? Does it help with wrinkles? I'd love to know. Thanks for doing this fun post on these products.Julie

Such an interesting post! Thank you! I could imagine with the needle roller me ending up with a bleeding face as I tend to bleed easily. Wouldn't that be something. I am enjoying some cooking shows on you tube. There is so much to learn! It's good we never stop wanting to learn. By the way, after seeing your IG post, I found myself organizing a shelf on my own book case (not hubby's books) by color. Really fun!

Dearest Deborah,You are a very brave woman! Had to laugh with the peach fuzz... a lot of women walk around with it.For decades I've gone the French way by using the Braun Silk-epil and have never had any fuzz.The tools you used, like the Tinkle razor and the Microneedling tool, I would not use for myself. As for the rose quartz rollers, I'm very skeptic about their ability to de-puff. Like having fluid locked around the eyes for certain health conditions, what would rolling do about it? Guess I'm too analytical for being tricked into such things...But as long as it gives you good results and makes you feel good, go for it! The oil no doubt feels good after treatment and especially in winter time.Sending you hugs,Mariette

Oh Deborah, what a fun and honest post. I so love hearing your thoughts about beauty products because you, my dear, are beautiful. I absolutely love microneedling! I started using it years ago when Rodan + Fields started selling it. I have several small scars on my cheeks and the needles, along with the serum, made a huge improvement. I have not used a roller in some time simply because it's very expensive from Rodan + Fields, but I can truly say that it works.

I like the rose quartz roller and may have to try it. It's so pretty too {{smiles}}

And as for the Tinkle razors....yep, I've used them. I didn't know they were a thing either until I stumbled upon them on YouTube about a year ago. I was truly amazed! I did a lot of research first and after assuring myself it would be fine to try, I did...and I love them. As you know, I suffer from PCOS and oh, in the last few years the "peach fuzz" multiplied on my face thanks to my hormonal issues - HA! It's true, you do not get stubble and you only have to use them once a week, if that. My face feels so smooth and clean. I have never told anyone, but hey, if you can be open and honest, so can I {{smiles}}

Thanks for being such a lovely lady and friend. Love and hugs to you!

P.S. -I GREATLY APPRECIATED your last post. I read it and I apologize for not commenting on it, but oh, you hit the nail on the head. Well done, my friend. May God bless you!

What an interesting post! I am definitely going to try the little shavers. Not sure about the other products but I do plan to do some research. I so wish I had known in my teens and early 20s how important it was to care for your skin then in order to have prettier skin as you age!!! I will be 70 this summer and have been told many times I don't look it, so for that I'm thankful...but I just think how much better it could have been!!!! My mother is 90 and has few wrinkles so hopefully I've inherited her genes:) Thanks for sharing this info.

Hello Deborah, I read this with interest as one of my daughters-in-law is an esthetician with her own shop in Nashville. I'm always following her IG stories on her and am so curious about all the tools and methods used. I have rosacae (spelling??) and worry about making that worse but still would like to put myself in her hands some day after reading your informative post and see what she can do to help me. And then maybe she will advise me on things I can do at home too because I can't see a regular trip to town, not to mention the cost.